AFC Bournemouth signed Eli Junior Kroupi from FC Lorient on winter deadline day and sent him back on loan to the French club until the end of this season.
The Premier League club gave him a contract until 2030, but his immediate focus is on Lorient.
Ouest-France provide a background on how the 18-year-old’s transfer to Bournemouth was completed.
The French club are leading the Ligue 2 table and are three points ahead of second placed Paris FC. The forward returned on loan as it was his wish to help Lorient return to the top division.
Eli Junior Kroupi’s move to Bournemouth was sealed minutes before the window closed. Sources close to him assures this case was ‘hot’ towards the end, while the France U19 international remained ‘calm’.
The newspaper states the operation was ‘hottest’ during the last seconds because Lorient had a ‘need to replenish their coffers’. The two clubs negotiated throughout deadline day and there was still uncertainty towards the end.
Bournemouth finally closed the signing for €20m plus bonuses. Their owner, Bill Foley, who has a minority stake at Lorient, may had a role in this agreement.
Eli Junior Kroupi’s mother Sandrine has insisted the sporting project presented by Andoni Iraola’s side would have convinced him to sign for them.
“It’s a great sporting project. He’s loved the Premier League for a long time, he watches it and it was his plan to play there,” she said.
The player has made it clear he wants to help Lorient return to Ligue 1. Ouest-France say promotion would be a ‘great gift’ for the French club before he moves to Bournemouth in the summer.
